Keeping spinifex hopping-mice or plains rats as pets
You can keep two other native mammals as pets in NSW, but only with a licence from the NPWS. These are two attractive and easily cared-for native rodents. They are the spinifex hopping-mouse (Notomys alexis) and the plains rat (Pseudomys australis).
There are no animal welfare or conservation concerns to prevent the keeping of the spinifex hopping-mouse and plains rat as pets. Both species are easy to keep and breed and are available from well-established captive colonies in NSW and interstate.
Although they cannot be handled like domesticated house mice and rats, the spinifex hopping-mouse and the plains rat can be kept in an indoor enclosure, such as a glass aquarium. You'll need to put wood shavings or sand on the floor, and provide small hollow logs or bird breeding boxes for housing. They are easily fed on a mixed diet of seeds, such as a parrot mix, and rodent pellets, a regular supply of fresh vegetables and fruit, and occasional insects like crickets and beetles.
Getting a licence to keep spinifex hopping-mice or plains rats
You can get a licence from the NPWS to keep a colony of spinifex hopping-mice and/or plains rats. The licence costs $60 for a two-year licence or $120 for five years. Licence applicants must be over the age of 10 years and must have the written consent of a parent or guardian if under 16 years.
These animals are not allowed to be traded by pet shops in NSW. They may be obtained from other licence holders, or from interstate commercial traders or keepers. If you intend to get your animals from another state, you must get an interstate import licence from the NPWS.
Documents to download
- Mammal licence application form (PDF format - 18KB)